Asphalt quote

[geordie]

Hi there,

Just received a quote for the following from a company that has done a few asphalt drives in my area and the work looks very good. It's a bit more than I expected but please let me know what you think:-

1. Lift and cart off existing flagstones.
2. Excavate remaining surface to formation level and cart all risings off site 52m2.
3. Supply & install in block paving a 2 tier doorstep on concrete foundation approx 1.08m2
4. Supply & install to perimeter of excavations a decorative block kerb edging complete with concrete foundations and haunchings, approx 13 linear metres.
5. Reset to correct level 1 manhole cover & frame.
6. Supply & lay to excavation the following materials:-
250mm thick granular sub-base
60mm thick 20mm nominal size open graded binder course
30mm thick 6mm nominal size open graded surface course
Approx 52m2

£3924 + VAT

What do you reckon - are they trying it on or does this seem fair?

Comments much appreciated.

Cheers,
Geordie.

[ambient]

round manchester that would be a bit dear should be nearer £3200 + vat but price depends where you are in uk

[lutonlagerlout]

well as the OP is called Geordie an educated guess would say Newcastle
it sounds about right from south Luton but i don't know the waste costs in the north east,bit cheap if anything
the only thing i couldn't see was any provision for SUDS
from 1st October 2008 all drives must have a SUDS system in place for surface water Geordie
and that includes tarmac
cheers LLL

[Dave_L]

Looks a good quote, most of the info you need is there. But as LLL has said, drainage is a concern.

Where does the drive slope towards? If it all runs off into a garden area, all well and good.

[geordie]

Thanks for the replies - yes I'm in Newcastle.

I asked for a quote for permeable tarmac so the water would drain through it.

My drive slopes towards the house and he did talk about putting a metal drainage grate in front of the garage door so any surface water would go into the already existing drain. He said this was legal way of dispersing water as you were not allowing rain water to go into public drains on the street??

I'm now wondering if he has ignored my permeable tarmac request and plans to drain the water away via the grate / drain.

I'll give him a call to clarify - I thought the quote would be £700-£800 cheaper though..

Cheers,

Geordie.

[DNgroundworks]

250mm thick subbase??

[lutonlagerlout]

permeable tarmac??????
is that like a chocolate teapot? or an ashtray on a motorbike?

I may get shot down here but AFAIK there is no such thing
LLL

[msh paving]

Sorry LLL, there is open texture asphalt which allows surface water to drain through,normally laid on driveways etc with little or no falls
My tarmac contractor has done several driveways for me using this material.
Cannot be laid over a dense Ashphalt base course, has to be open texture all through,I thinck i'm correct in saying its made using stone and no fines to allow water to flow through

Hope this helps MSH

[rab1]

you learn something new every day, always thought tarmac was impermeable to water.

[GB_Groundworks]

i was aware that some asphalt like base course is semi permeable kind of but a quick google shows

http://www.tarmac.co.uk/asphalt/tarmacdry.aspx

[Mikey_C]

i knew they had come up with a permeable concrete, but i didn't know that a permeable tarmac existed. the quote does mention a 250mm granular sub base,which a) could be excessive depending on ground conditions and b) is not clearly identifiable as permeable or non permeable.

the excavation, spoil removal and extra "granular sub base" could explain the "extra" cost.

Why do you presume it should have been £700-£800 cheaper?

[lutonlagerlout]

like permeable block paving and concrete ,permeable tarmac will be a haven for weed growth
oh how seeds love to get into those small wet fissures and germinate
I can understand it on big car parks ,but on domestic driveways?
LLL

[Dave_L]

Permeable 'mac is often laid beneath block paved roads. Very open-textured 20mm with very little fines content. Wainwright (Local Quarry) call it "Whispercoat"